Bennell suffers another setback

HARLEY Bennell’s hopes of playing early this season are already in tatters after suffering two calf injuries in as many weeks.

The first occurred earlier this month, with Fremantle putting Bennell on a modified training program after the injury.

But Bennell suffered another setback yesterday when he strained his left calf while training away from the main group at the club’s headquarters. Fremantle football operations manager Peter Bell says Bennell would undergo scans to determine the extent of the latest injury.

Bennell has been plagued by calf issues in his three-anda-half year stint at Fremantle, notching just two AFL games during that stretch.

The 26-year-old was considered lucky by outsiders to be handed another one-year ex- tension last season. Bennell’s hopes of making it back onto the AFL stage appear to be dwindling.

His long list of off-field misdemeanours meant the Suns were more than happy to trade him when Fremantle came knocking at the end of 2015.

Bennell’s time at the Dockers has also been littered with off-field issues, but it is his calf woes that have his career at the crossroads.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon was planning to use Bennell this year in a forward role. But the recent double setback means Bennell faces an uphill battle to make it back onto the AFL park. AAP